For Steven Mastey, the black 1974 Dodge Charger SE represents the culmination of a 50-year dream. Mastey, who was 20 years old at the time, vividly remembers seeing a black-and-white 1973 Charger in his neighborhood and becoming infatuated with it. Although the car he initially saw wasn't as elaborate as his current Charger SE, it sparked a lifelong passion. “It was the only black-and-white Charger I’ve ever seen in person,” he reflects. Despite searching high and low, including at MoPar Nationals, he never encountered another one in that color scheme.

Even his uncle, who worked at a local Pulaski dealership, tried to dissuade him from his choice. “I told my uncle Jim that I wanted a black-and-white Charger,” Mastey recalls. His uncle responded with, “I have two Chargers in the showroom, why don’t you take one of those?” When Mastey insisted on a black-and-white model and a four-speed transmission, his uncle pointed out that he hadn’t sold a black car or a four-speed in a decade. “But I was determined,” Mastey says with a smile, “I wanted exactly what I had in mind.”

Eventually, Mastey secured his 1974 SE in stunning black with a distinctive Aztec interior, a white vinyl top, a four-speed manual transmission, and a 400 four-barrel V-8 engine. The total cost came to over $4,700—a significant sum at the time. “Back then, if you were going to spend $5,000 on a car, you got precisely what you wanted,” he chuckles, reflecting on the value he saw in his purchase.

Mastey drove the Charger year-round for two decades before putting it in storage for another 20 years while preparing for its restoration. The restoration process faced numerous hurdles; the initial restorer had to abandon the project due to personal reasons, leaving the car disassembled. “The guy who started the frame-off restoration ended up going through a divorce, sold his business, and handed me back the car in pieces,” Mastey explains.

Despite the setbacks, Mastey eventually completed the restoration. “I’m really glad I did it,” he says with satisfaction. “I wanted to enjoy driving it while I still could.” He laughs, “I’m just happy I got it done before I got too old!”

This version incorporates more details and examples to enhance the narrative and give a clearer picture of Mastey’s journey with his Charger SE.

Generation 3: Accelerating Into the Future

In 1974, the Dodge Charger was nearing the end of its third generation, which had run since 1971. While it was no longer the powerhouse muscle car it had once been, like many of its American muscle car counterparts, it remained a sleek and popular choice. 

The 1974 Charger SE was the top-of-the-line model, starting at $3,742. It featured distinctive louvered rear quarter windows and an elegant vinyl roof, alongside other luxury elements such as an upgraded interior with plush seating and trim. Of the 74,376 Chargers produced that year, 30,957 were SE models, each equipped with a V-8 engine.

The high-performance Hemi, 440, and R/T Chargers had been phased out after 1971, but the Charger still offered a variety of options. The base model continued to include essential features like federally mandated safety equipment, a 225-cid Slant Six or a 318-cid V-8 engine, dual horns, color-keyed carpeting, and two-speed windshield wipers. 

Popular options included power steering, power disc brakes, air conditioning, tinted glass, and a choice between AM or AM/FM radios. Buyers could also select bucket seats, a console, and even a sunroof.

The 1974 Charger came in an array of colors including Dark Frost, Powder Blue, Bright Red, Avocado Gold, and Rally Green, among others. The Rallye option added sporty features such as front and rear sway bars, F70-14 raised white-letter tires, a power bulge hood, and distinctive body tape stripes.

The Charger SE, initially an option package in 1969-70, became a standalone model in 1971. It was characterized by its Landau vinyl top with opera windows, concealed headlamps, and Deluxe wheel covers. It also featured a front bench seat with a folding center armrest and Rallye instrument cluster.

For 1974, the base engine was a modest 318-cid V-8 with 150 horsepower. However, buyers could choose from more powerful engines, including the 360-cid V-8 in two- and four-barrel configurations (200 and 245 hp), and the 400-cid V-8, which came in two- and four-barrel variants (205 and 250 hp), or the 440 V-8 with 275 hp for those seeking more performance.

The 340 engine was discontinued in 1974, and the SE model saw minor updates such as slightly modified interior patterns and larger rubber bumper tips. The standard three-speed manual transmission remained, but a four-speed pistol-grip Hurst unit was available as an option. The Torsion-Quiet Ride suspension, introduced in 1973, was carried over, and front disc brakes were standard.

From Daily Driver to Restoration Project: Mastey's Charger Journey

Over the years, Mastey made several improvements to his Dodge Charger while it was still his daily driver. He replaced the front fender due to rust and swapped out the trunk lid, which had suffered from the harsh Wisconsin winters. Despite these issues, the car's interior remained in excellent condition, and he never encountered any mechanical problems.

However, as the mileage approached 80,000, Mastey made the difficult decision to retire the Charger and focus on restoring it. "After parking it, I started attending car shows and searching for parts to bring the car back to its former glory," he recalls.

For two decades, the Charger was stored in his brother's shed. Unfortunately, a tornado damaged the shed and dropped a pole on the driver's side fender. Although it was just a fender and not a major issue, Mastey lamented that it wasn't the passenger side, which he had already replaced previously.

After an initial restoration attempt fell through, Mastey sought out a reliable professional to complete the project. He found Big 3 Performance in Green Bay, Wisconsin, which proved to be a great choice. "From our first conversation, I could tell they were genuinely interested in restoring my car, not just treating it as another job," Mastey says. The team delivered exceptional work, including body repairs, a fresh paint job, a new vinyl top, and other cosmetic updates.

In addition to the exterior work, Mastey decided to replace the original, eye-catching Aztec interior. Although the original upholstery was still in good condition, he wanted the car to look brand new both inside and out. "I discovered that finding parts for the '74 Charger was challenging because it's not a popular model," Mastey explains. "Unlike the '71 model, which has a wide range of aftermarket parts, I had to track down used parts for the '74. Finding new fenders, doors, and rearview mirrors was particularly difficult."